Chris Nocco backs Mollyana Ward to ‘keep our children safe’

Sheriff Chris Nocco is throwing his weight behind Mollyana Ward for the Pasco County School Board, citing her ability to keep kids safe as a top reason. 

“Mollyana supports the strong partnership the Sheriff’s Office and School District share to keep our children safe. With Mollyana, our already strong partnership will continue, and I look forward to working together as we keep our children safe,” Nocco said.

A local businesswoman and mother, Ward is running for the District 3 seat to succeed Cynthia Armstrong, who was first elected in 2010 and is not seeking re-election. 

She’s running on a platform that centers on making “Pasco schools a place where every student can thrive” and on giving parents and grandparents a voice.

But school safety is also an important issue. 

“Sheriff Nocco’s record of protecting our community is second to none. The work he and his deputies do to help keep our community safe and enforce the rule of law is something we are all extremely grateful for and I can’t thank him enough for the trust and confidence he’s placed in our campaign,” Ward said of Nocco’s nod.

Ward is a licensed Realtor and a former broker/owner. She currently partners with LPT Realty to mentor and grow a high-performing real estate team. She also serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Icemann Development, where she leads community and sports-centric projects across the state.

Ward also owns RAW Space Collaborative, a coworking space in Wesley Chapel — the first of its kind — created to empower small businesses, startups and other creatives.

Ward homeschooled her three sons, a decision she said she made after seeing gaps in the school system. Her sons later graduated from Pasco County public high schools. Both experiences would give her a unique perspective as a School Board member, she said.

While Ward’s sons were in school, she also owned and operated an accredited child care facility that earned the state’s Gold Seal of Excellence. She also served as president of the Central Florida Association for Family Child Care at 21 years old.

Additionally, Ward directed children’s and youth ministries at her local church and chaired the Women of Wesley Chapel program for the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. She currently chairs the Women of Wesley Chapel program for the Chamber and is a director for Bridging Freedom.

Ward lost her husband of 25 years in 2019 to brain cancer, raising her family and growing her business alone until remarrying to Gordie Zimmerman. The two are now raising a blended family of five boys.

Ward also has six grandchildren.

Other candidates in the race include Kirk Phillips and Erin Stroupe.